Upcoming Dates
Next Week’s Sharing: Something that starts with the letter S.
Thursday, October 1st: September Homework Due
Please return the September homework page (from Back-to-School night) showing which activities you and your child completed at home. The October Homework page will go home on this day as well.
Monday, October 5th: October Book Orders Due
Today you are receiving the October Scholastic Book Orders for Firefly and Seesaw. Please look over the books and if you would like to purchase one, please return the form to me with ONE check payable to Scholastic Book Clubs, or purchase them online at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs (User Name: Beebear, Password: MrsYu – no spaces or period).
Monday, October 5th – Tuesday, October 13th: Parent Conferences
On Monday this week, you should have received your 20 minute conference day and time. If you have not returned the confirmation sheet, please do so on Monday, September 28th. Please make sure you arrive on time because we have back-to-back conferences and we cannot go over the time allotted to you. All the kindergarten teachers will have a substitute for three full days during conferences. I will be meeting with each of you in the UPPER GRADE WING – CONFERENCE ROOM (Next to Room 17).
-----
Dear Families,
Time is flying by quickly. I can’t believe it is already the end of September and that October is around the corner! Starting next week, your child will start bringing home a homework folder on Monday. Inside will be some optional math and language arts pages. In a few weeks, we will also add the library book and library journals. Please return these folders every Friday (if there is no school on Friday, please return it on Thursday!).
Great job with our first sharing this week! Today you will see a half sheet of yellow paper that shows how your child did on sharing this week. Our goal is to try and get a “4” in all areas. Some of the students were very comfortable in front of the class, and some of the students were extremely shy. Either way, I was proud of everyone for trying their best and bringing something special to share with the class. Great job!
Here are some highlights for the week:
• Language Arts: We have finished working on all of the uppercase and lowercase alphabet letters, and learning their sounds. Everyday, we will continue to practice our handwriting and phonics, but at least now everyone has been introduced to all the letters and the vowels. We have been learning a song that teaches us all of the vowels, and we have been reviewing a song about how many syllables we have in our name. On Thursday, we tried to write all of the letters independently. Keep practicing at home everyday!
• Social Studies: Congratulations to Tanisha, who was chosen as our fourth Star of the Week! You can read about her in the “Classwork” section of our website, and click under “Star of the Week.”
• Science: We are studying about apples this week. We made a minibook about what colors apples should be. We also tasted four different types of apples to see which was our favorite. In addition, we worked on the life cycle of apples during Friday Centers by learning about seeds, trees, leaves, blossoms, and apples!
• Math: We finished our fourth chapter on plane shapes and our fifth chapter on patterns. We practiced patterns by colors, shapes, sizes, objects, and by letters. We also made a math art picture of a beehive using rulers. We learned how to make straight lines and how to make curved lines. We used fingerstamps for the bees and placed a bee inside, outside, and on the beehive to reinforce math vocabulary.
• Computer Lab: This week we learned how to open up files from our folders on the servers. This was very difficult for some students because they are not used to clicking and double-clicking on icons. We are practicing this skill. Then, we began illustrating a poem about an apple tree. We used the shape tools, painting tools, stamps, and also learned to type our names by finding our letters on the keyboard. Thank you to Caroline and Keona’s mother for helping out in computer lab! It really helps to get all the students to successfully complete the projects. We will be continuing this lesson next week and hopefully will be able to print and save all the pictures!
• Assembly: This week, we had a special puppet show assembly on Trickster stories. We are remembering how to be a polite audience and to clap for others. During sharing, we also are trying to learn to be good listeners.
• Art: This was our first art class with Mrs. Abada! She taught us how to make a cityscape using different materials such as paper, wallpaper, and fabric. We glued on our cityscape buildings, then decorated with markers and stickers. Thank you to Michael, Sean, and Shaunak’s mother for helping out during art class!
September book orders went home on Wednesday with your children. I told them to put it inside their backpacks, so hopefully the books made it home safely! Today you will see the October book order forms if you are interested!
In school, we are learning to follow rules such as keeping our hands and feet to ourselves, and treating others nicely. We are also learning to take turns and to share. Also, we are learning to line up instead of cutting or pushing our way to the front. Please help to teach this skill every morning when you arrive with your child. Make sure they go to the back of the line when they come to school and not stand wherever they want to. Thank you!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
September 17, 2009
Upcoming Dates
Friday, September 18th: No School – Staff Learning Day
The Cupertino School District will have a day to introduce teachers to the new math program this year.
Monday, October 5th – Tuesday, October 13th: Parent Conferences
You will be assigned a 20 minute time slot during the school day to talk about your child’s progress. Please make sure you arrive on time because we have back-to-back conferences and we cannot go over the time allotted to you. All the kindergarten teachers will have a substitute for three full days during conferences. I will be meeting with each of you in the UPPER GRADE WING – CONFERENCE ROOM (Next to Room 17).
-----
Dear Families,
This was another short week! On Monday, you children brought home their “warm-colored” Kindergarten Keepbook Box. Please remember to put them somewhere where your child can access them whenever they want to read. I told the students a good place may be in their room, such as in their closet, on a shelf, or under the bed. We will be taking home mini-books about once a week, so please keep them altogether!
Here are some highlights for the week:
• Language Arts: We worked on many of the letters this week including O, P, Q, R, S, and T. Our handwriting is starting to look better and I am seeing good control on holding the pencil correctly! Many of the students can copy the letters if they have an example, but cannot write it properly on their own. This will be our next step. Keep practicing at home! We have been reading many stories such as Hooway For Wodney Wat, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, and Freckleface Strawberry, which are about accepting differences and being special just the way you are. We want to make sure we only saw kind things to each other and never name-call or make fun of others.
• Social Studies: Congratulations to David, who was chosen as our second Star of the Week! You can read about him in the “Classwork” section of our website, and click under “Star of the Week.” Please remember to take care of Beebear if you take him home for the weekend. He is pretty old, so he needs to be treated gently! Thanks! Also this week, we made a minibook for the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. We recite the Pledge everyday, so your child should have the words memorized! Please add this minibook to our Kindergarten Keepbook Shoeboxes!
• Math: We completed the first unit of our math books. I assessed students individually this week to see if they understood the concepts of the first unit. We also started the second unit, or chapter 4 this week on shapes. We are practicing to sort and identify squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles. We also continued working with patterns.
• Computer Lab: This week we explored the Stamp function in Kidpix. We found stamps that we liked and made them different sizes. Next week we will begin our first project.
• Buddies: We saw our fourth grade buddies for the second time today. Ms. Allen read us all a story called, Me on the Map. This was a social studies activity for students to learn about where they are in relation to the world. Little buddies had to draw themselves, their bedroom, their house, and their street. Big buddies had to draw their town, town state, their country, and the world.
• Library: This was our second visit to the library. Mrs. Glass read us a story, and then reviewed the library rules: walking feet, whisper voices, using a shelf marker to find books, putting books away, and reading quietly at the tables. We are really working on following these rules, and not just playing during library time. Please begin getting in the habit of reading with or to your child every night, even just a few minutes. We want students to learn to love reading, or at this stage, love to hear stories, look at pictures, and think about what’s happening in the story.
• Music: We saw Ms. Disney again today! She always has fun movement songs for us to learn. We reviewed some of the activities from last class. In music, we are trying to remember when it is ok to be silly and when it is time to be quiet.
Remember that next week, sharing begins! Hopefully, you have kept the sharing schedule in a safe place! Next week, the topic is anything your child wants to share! Please remember to prepare at least 4 sentences, and bring a visual to show the class (whether it is the actual object, or a large, colorful picture). All the sharing information is on the website under “Classwork” and then “Sharing.” Just a reminder:
Mondays –
AM: Aditi, Caroline, Chris, Connor
PM: Aditya, Colleen
Tuesdays –
AM: David, Jennifer, Kavya
PM: Daniel, Edison, Grace
Wednesdays –
AM: Keona, Kristina, Kumiko
PM: Jewel, Lauren, Matthew N.
Thursdays –
AM: Leah, Michael, Raphael, Sahithi
PM: Sara, Shaunak
Fridays –
AM: Sean, Matthew C., Yuma
PM: Tanisha, Woojin, Yash
I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s sharing next week!!! Have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, September 18th: No School – Staff Learning Day
The Cupertino School District will have a day to introduce teachers to the new math program this year.
Monday, October 5th – Tuesday, October 13th: Parent Conferences
You will be assigned a 20 minute time slot during the school day to talk about your child’s progress. Please make sure you arrive on time because we have back-to-back conferences and we cannot go over the time allotted to you. All the kindergarten teachers will have a substitute for three full days during conferences. I will be meeting with each of you in the UPPER GRADE WING – CONFERENCE ROOM (Next to Room 17).
-----
Dear Families,
This was another short week! On Monday, you children brought home their “warm-colored” Kindergarten Keepbook Box. Please remember to put them somewhere where your child can access them whenever they want to read. I told the students a good place may be in their room, such as in their closet, on a shelf, or under the bed. We will be taking home mini-books about once a week, so please keep them altogether!
Here are some highlights for the week:
• Language Arts: We worked on many of the letters this week including O, P, Q, R, S, and T. Our handwriting is starting to look better and I am seeing good control on holding the pencil correctly! Many of the students can copy the letters if they have an example, but cannot write it properly on their own. This will be our next step. Keep practicing at home! We have been reading many stories such as Hooway For Wodney Wat, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, and Freckleface Strawberry, which are about accepting differences and being special just the way you are. We want to make sure we only saw kind things to each other and never name-call or make fun of others.
• Social Studies: Congratulations to David, who was chosen as our second Star of the Week! You can read about him in the “Classwork” section of our website, and click under “Star of the Week.” Please remember to take care of Beebear if you take him home for the weekend. He is pretty old, so he needs to be treated gently! Thanks! Also this week, we made a minibook for the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. We recite the Pledge everyday, so your child should have the words memorized! Please add this minibook to our Kindergarten Keepbook Shoeboxes!
• Math: We completed the first unit of our math books. I assessed students individually this week to see if they understood the concepts of the first unit. We also started the second unit, or chapter 4 this week on shapes. We are practicing to sort and identify squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles. We also continued working with patterns.
• Computer Lab: This week we explored the Stamp function in Kidpix. We found stamps that we liked and made them different sizes. Next week we will begin our first project.
• Buddies: We saw our fourth grade buddies for the second time today. Ms. Allen read us all a story called, Me on the Map. This was a social studies activity for students to learn about where they are in relation to the world. Little buddies had to draw themselves, their bedroom, their house, and their street. Big buddies had to draw their town, town state, their country, and the world.
• Library: This was our second visit to the library. Mrs. Glass read us a story, and then reviewed the library rules: walking feet, whisper voices, using a shelf marker to find books, putting books away, and reading quietly at the tables. We are really working on following these rules, and not just playing during library time. Please begin getting in the habit of reading with or to your child every night, even just a few minutes. We want students to learn to love reading, or at this stage, love to hear stories, look at pictures, and think about what’s happening in the story.
• Music: We saw Ms. Disney again today! She always has fun movement songs for us to learn. We reviewed some of the activities from last class. In music, we are trying to remember when it is ok to be silly and when it is time to be quiet.
Remember that next week, sharing begins! Hopefully, you have kept the sharing schedule in a safe place! Next week, the topic is anything your child wants to share! Please remember to prepare at least 4 sentences, and bring a visual to show the class (whether it is the actual object, or a large, colorful picture). All the sharing information is on the website under “Classwork” and then “Sharing.” Just a reminder:
Mondays –
AM: Aditi, Caroline, Chris, Connor
PM: Aditya, Colleen
Tuesdays –
AM: David, Jennifer, Kavya
PM: Daniel, Edison, Grace
Wednesdays –
AM: Keona, Kristina, Kumiko
PM: Jewel, Lauren, Matthew N.
Thursdays –
AM: Leah, Michael, Raphael, Sahithi
PM: Sara, Shaunak
Fridays –
AM: Sean, Matthew C., Yuma
PM: Tanisha, Woojin, Yash
I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s sharing next week!!! Have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, September 11, 2009
September 11, 2009
Upcoming Dates
Sunday, September 13th: Scholastic Book Orders Due
I’ve extended the September book order deadline to Sunday so you have time to order books over the weekend.
Friday, September 18th: No School – Staff Learning Day
The Cupertino School District will have a day to introduce teachers to the new math program this year.
------
Dear Families,
This was a short week. Everyday we are working on following our carpet rules, working rules, and lining up rules. We are also talking about how to treat others in the classroom and on the playground with respect. We are learning to share and we are learning to use our words to communicate with each other. I hope that this year the children will learn how to be kind to one another. Here are some highlights for the week:
• Language Arts: We worked on the letters J, K, L, M, and N this week. Please review all of our alphabet letters at home, and have your child practice writing their own name properly. We also read the story, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, which is about alphabet letters trying to climb up a coconut tree. We made a project that showed the letters of our name climbing up a coconut tree and counted how many made it up!
• Social Studies: Congratulations to Sahithi, who was chosen as our first Star of the Week! You can read about her in the “Classwork” section of our website, and clicking under “Star of the Week.” I will update information about our new Star each week. Also, in Friday Centers, we completed a mini-book that illustrates Eaton School’s Peacebuilder Pledge that we recite everyday. This book will be added to our shoebox collection.
• Math: We completed the third chapter in the first unit of our math book. This week was all about graphing. We learned how to read graphs and figure out which is more or less popular. We also had a chance to make our own graphs and interview classmates to fill in the data. Now we are reviewing all of our vocabulary words and concepts from the past three chapters. In Friday Centers, we also used red and blue squares, as well as stamps, to make patterns.
• Computer Lab: This was our second time in the computer lab. We continued to explore the drawing and painting tools in KidPix. Our task this week was to create a picture and add details in the background.
• Art: On Thursday, we painted our shoeboxes! We used warm colors (red, orange, and yellow) to paint all the sides of our boxes any way we liked! It was a bit of a mess, but we had a great time! Shoeboxes will be coming home soon!
Thank you for returning all the paperwork from Back-to-School night so promptly. If you haven’t yet, please return at least the website permission form, the library permission form, and the behavior agreement. Thank you to all of our volunteers so far:
- Room Parent’s: Shaunak and Colleen’s mom
- Art Helpers: Sean, Caroline, Shaunak, and Michael’s mom
- Computer Helper: Caroline’s mom
- Friday Helpers: AM – Kumiko’s mom, PM – Daniel’s mom, and Prep – Yuma’s mom
If you are available, we still need extra help in Computer Lab every Wednesday from 11:40am-12:20pm and we need a library helper every Monday from 11:00am-12:00pm. Please let me know if you will be able to volunteer during these times.
Thank you also to everyone who signed up to help with traffic duty in October. I will send a reminder as we get closer to our traffic duty week. Again, if you haven’t signed up for a slot, please consider doing so and return the pink sign up sheet from Back to School night. Thank you for your help!
Have a wonderful weekend! Next week will also be a short week!
Sunday, September 13th: Scholastic Book Orders Due
I’ve extended the September book order deadline to Sunday so you have time to order books over the weekend.
Friday, September 18th: No School – Staff Learning Day
The Cupertino School District will have a day to introduce teachers to the new math program this year.
------
Dear Families,
This was a short week. Everyday we are working on following our carpet rules, working rules, and lining up rules. We are also talking about how to treat others in the classroom and on the playground with respect. We are learning to share and we are learning to use our words to communicate with each other. I hope that this year the children will learn how to be kind to one another. Here are some highlights for the week:
• Language Arts: We worked on the letters J, K, L, M, and N this week. Please review all of our alphabet letters at home, and have your child practice writing their own name properly. We also read the story, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, which is about alphabet letters trying to climb up a coconut tree. We made a project that showed the letters of our name climbing up a coconut tree and counted how many made it up!
• Social Studies: Congratulations to Sahithi, who was chosen as our first Star of the Week! You can read about her in the “Classwork” section of our website, and clicking under “Star of the Week.” I will update information about our new Star each week. Also, in Friday Centers, we completed a mini-book that illustrates Eaton School’s Peacebuilder Pledge that we recite everyday. This book will be added to our shoebox collection.
• Math: We completed the third chapter in the first unit of our math book. This week was all about graphing. We learned how to read graphs and figure out which is more or less popular. We also had a chance to make our own graphs and interview classmates to fill in the data. Now we are reviewing all of our vocabulary words and concepts from the past three chapters. In Friday Centers, we also used red and blue squares, as well as stamps, to make patterns.
• Computer Lab: This was our second time in the computer lab. We continued to explore the drawing and painting tools in KidPix. Our task this week was to create a picture and add details in the background.
• Art: On Thursday, we painted our shoeboxes! We used warm colors (red, orange, and yellow) to paint all the sides of our boxes any way we liked! It was a bit of a mess, but we had a great time! Shoeboxes will be coming home soon!
Thank you for returning all the paperwork from Back-to-School night so promptly. If you haven’t yet, please return at least the website permission form, the library permission form, and the behavior agreement. Thank you to all of our volunteers so far:
- Room Parent’s: Shaunak and Colleen’s mom
- Art Helpers: Sean, Caroline, Shaunak, and Michael’s mom
- Computer Helper: Caroline’s mom
- Friday Helpers: AM – Kumiko’s mom, PM – Daniel’s mom, and Prep – Yuma’s mom
If you are available, we still need extra help in Computer Lab every Wednesday from 11:40am-12:20pm and we need a library helper every Monday from 11:00am-12:00pm. Please let me know if you will be able to volunteer during these times.
Thank you also to everyone who signed up to help with traffic duty in October. I will send a reminder as we get closer to our traffic duty week. Again, if you haven’t signed up for a slot, please consider doing so and return the pink sign up sheet from Back to School night. Thank you for your help!
Have a wonderful weekend! Next week will also be a short week!
Friday, September 04, 2009
September 4, 2009
Upcoming Dates
Monday, September 7th: No School – Labor Day
Enjoy your three-day weekend!
Friday, September 11th: Scholastic Book Orders Due
Yesterday at Back to School Night, you received our first September Book Order catalogs. Please look over them and submit your orders online by Friday. If you want to pay by check, you can send ONE check payable to Scholastic Book Clubs with the order form, and submit that to me by Friday.
Friday, September 18th: No School – Staff Learning Day
The Cupertino School District will have a day to introduce teachers to the new math program this year.
-----
Dear Families,
I’m glad so many of you were able to make it yesterday to Back to School Night! I apologize for speaking so quickly and rushing through many things, but there is so much to cover! Remember to take time to look over the website if you ever have questions about our classroom procedures. If you were unable to attend, I have sent home our Back to School Night packet in your child’s orange or green daily folder. Please look through all the materials and return the forms included.
I mentioned homework last night which includes library take home books, sharing, monthly packets, and weekly packets. Only the September Homework packet has started, and that will be due October 1st. Sharing begins the week of September 21st and library take home books will begin in October. I will try to send the weekly homework packets in the next few weeks.
Here are some highlights for the week:
• Language Arts: We worked on the letters E, F, G, H, and I this week. We learned their sounds and proper handwriting. We are even learning sign language! Ask your child to show you the alphabet up to letter I in sign language!
• Social Studies: We are beginning our Star of the Week program today. We will select a child each week to learn about. We will interview them by asking them questions, and then afterwards we complete a book about things that they like. The Star of the Week completes their posters at home and get to bring Beebear home for the weekend!
• Math: We completed the second chapter in our math books. This week was all about same and different things. We compared similarities between objects and sorted them by their shape or color. We also sorted the class into groups such as boys and girls, people wearing pants and not pants, or names with certain letters. In Friday Fun Centers, we also worked with Ms. Shyama on a sorting activity.
• Library: We had our first library visit this week. We met Mrs. Glass and learned about the library rules. We need to use walking feet, whisper voices, and we have special shelf markers to help us remember where we found our books. Students have time to read different books in the library and learn how to put them back in the correct spot.
• Buddies: We saw our fourth grade buddies in Ms. Allen’s class for the first time. We took a picture with our buddies and then worked on a “Me and My Buddy” interview. We learned about each other’s birthdays, favorite food, colors, animals, and favorite things to do. Then we illustrated our pictures on the paper.
• Computer Lab: This was our first time in the computer lab. Each of us are assigned to one computer for the whole year. We started by learning how to use the mouse and we explored the software program, Kidpix, today. We learned how to use the different drawing and painting tools, as well as how to quit the program when it is time to leave.
• Music: We met Ms. Disney for the first time this week. She is a wonderful music teacher who has great discipline and control of the classroom. During music, she focuses a lot on movement, rhythm, and beats, instead of just singing songs like we do in the classroom. When we first started, we walked in a circle to different drum beats such as fast, slow, or syncopated. Then we did some rhythm patterns using our hands and hopped, skipped, galloped, jumped, and wiggled to a song about a car on Highway 1.
Thank you for filling out the forms and paperwork from last night. Please return them as soon as possible. I will be contacting volunteers through email as soon as I can to get you in the classroom. Thank you for your help!
Monday, September 7th: No School – Labor Day
Enjoy your three-day weekend!
Friday, September 11th: Scholastic Book Orders Due
Yesterday at Back to School Night, you received our first September Book Order catalogs. Please look over them and submit your orders online by Friday. If you want to pay by check, you can send ONE check payable to Scholastic Book Clubs with the order form, and submit that to me by Friday.
Friday, September 18th: No School – Staff Learning Day
The Cupertino School District will have a day to introduce teachers to the new math program this year.
-----
Dear Families,
I’m glad so many of you were able to make it yesterday to Back to School Night! I apologize for speaking so quickly and rushing through many things, but there is so much to cover! Remember to take time to look over the website if you ever have questions about our classroom procedures. If you were unable to attend, I have sent home our Back to School Night packet in your child’s orange or green daily folder. Please look through all the materials and return the forms included.
I mentioned homework last night which includes library take home books, sharing, monthly packets, and weekly packets. Only the September Homework packet has started, and that will be due October 1st. Sharing begins the week of September 21st and library take home books will begin in October. I will try to send the weekly homework packets in the next few weeks.
Here are some highlights for the week:
• Language Arts: We worked on the letters E, F, G, H, and I this week. We learned their sounds and proper handwriting. We are even learning sign language! Ask your child to show you the alphabet up to letter I in sign language!
• Social Studies: We are beginning our Star of the Week program today. We will select a child each week to learn about. We will interview them by asking them questions, and then afterwards we complete a book about things that they like. The Star of the Week completes their posters at home and get to bring Beebear home for the weekend!
• Math: We completed the second chapter in our math books. This week was all about same and different things. We compared similarities between objects and sorted them by their shape or color. We also sorted the class into groups such as boys and girls, people wearing pants and not pants, or names with certain letters. In Friday Fun Centers, we also worked with Ms. Shyama on a sorting activity.
• Library: We had our first library visit this week. We met Mrs. Glass and learned about the library rules. We need to use walking feet, whisper voices, and we have special shelf markers to help us remember where we found our books. Students have time to read different books in the library and learn how to put them back in the correct spot.
• Buddies: We saw our fourth grade buddies in Ms. Allen’s class for the first time. We took a picture with our buddies and then worked on a “Me and My Buddy” interview. We learned about each other’s birthdays, favorite food, colors, animals, and favorite things to do. Then we illustrated our pictures on the paper.
• Computer Lab: This was our first time in the computer lab. Each of us are assigned to one computer for the whole year. We started by learning how to use the mouse and we explored the software program, Kidpix, today. We learned how to use the different drawing and painting tools, as well as how to quit the program when it is time to leave.
• Music: We met Ms. Disney for the first time this week. She is a wonderful music teacher who has great discipline and control of the classroom. During music, she focuses a lot on movement, rhythm, and beats, instead of just singing songs like we do in the classroom. When we first started, we walked in a circle to different drum beats such as fast, slow, or syncopated. Then we did some rhythm patterns using our hands and hopped, skipped, galloped, jumped, and wiggled to a song about a car on Highway 1.
Thank you for filling out the forms and paperwork from last night. Please return them as soon as possible. I will be contacting volunteers through email as soon as I can to get you in the classroom. Thank you for your help!
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